(*&%&**(**@ Gnats!!!

Today, we thought we would take the kids out for a short bike ride. So we slathered on the bug repellent, loaded up the bikes, and headed out for an excursion. I don't think we were more than 1 block away when we had to turn around and come home. The pesky gnats were ALL over us. We were swatting and shaking--whatever we could think of--to get them to leave us alone, but to no avail. So, today, we have been stuck in our hot apartment all day :( We think it is better to be hot and bored, than to be hot and swarmed.

As we look out of our window at those who have ventured out, we see everyone swatting at the air around them. Those gnats are terrible, and I don't know if I will go out until they are gone. Please, someone send some DEET---lots :)

more picnic...

Here is Volodia and Misha... they are both drivers, and fans of the man-pris (instead of capri's )...as it was VERY hot and buggy. Next up, there are pics of the shashlik, food table, river (notice how high it is---we have had a lot of rain, too), boat trip, and other random pics. We had a good time, and want to do it again when the bugs leave....

Wood Group, ESP picnic

Lee's office had a picnic this past saturday for all the employees. They rented a datcha that was on the river Ob. In the photos above, you will see our driver, Volodia, who drove us part of the way to the picnic, then you will see Igor (and his new boat) who took us the rest of the way to the picnic -- on the water! It was great! There were probably 70 people there. The only problem we had was the gnats....... There were swarms of them. I mean, literally, millions. The things couldn't get enough of us, and kept flying ALL over everyone. When I looked around, I saw that most people were either swatting the air around them with tree branches, spraying insect repellent, or sweating it out by the fire. I chose the latter 2. The repellent didn't seem to help at all, so I decided to hang out by the fire. Although it was in the 90's, and no breeze was in site, I sweat my rear off by the fire---it helped---some. Seriously, I was wondering if they had heard of DEET---I want to bring it back here by the case.

We have hot water again!!!

It is REALLY nice to have hot water again! We went without for about 10 days....it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it wasn't fun either :) We do have a water heater in our bathroom for showers, so that made it bearable.

As you can see in the photo, the water wasn't too clean :) When they shut off the hot water, they maintenece the pipes, and fix whatever needs fixing. This is good. However, there was a lot of sand and dirt that got into the pipes, and made our water not too pretty for a while :) Don't worry, it is better now!

Hello! I thought I would answer some of the questions I have been asked, and have forgotten to answer until now.... First, the cookies I made with the russian vanilla did NOT turn out good! They were a little bitter, and just didn't taste right. However, I have since acquired some American liquid vanilla, and it made the cookies turn out great! Since I can't get chocolate chips here, I have been using m-n-m's.

I have also been asked what kinds of things were not available here. Well, the list begins with: diced tomatoes, corn on the cob, celery, peeled baby carrots, fresh broccoli, rotel, syrup, molasses, corn starch, ice cube trays (they have these little divided plastic bags that you can fill with water and freeze), ..... well, that is all I can think of right now....but as I am looking for things, I am sure I will find there is more that is near impossible to find :) All in all, though, it hasn't been bad. I have been able to substitute for whatever I need.

The weather-- lately, it has been HOT! I think it feels hotter becuase there isn't any air conditioning, and we can't open our windows because of our "little monkeys" ! Also, even the gym doesn't even have fans going. Now that is hot!! We bought 2 fans for the house, and that helps! And the mosquitos really are HUGE... I had heard they were, but didn't really believe it--well, now I do!! They are BIG!

Anyway! email me your questions and i will try toanswer them!! love,j

Summer in Nizhnevartovsk.... Here are the latest pics from summer life here. There is a pic of the oilman's park in the evening when everyone is going to the beer tents. Then there are pics of the kids playing.... They are getting sooo big!

WGESP, Oklahoma City in Nizh!! It was soooo nice to have several people from OKC here with us---Tom, Chester, Dana and Travis were here for about 2 weeks, and during that time we went out to "Lemon" for dinner. We had a great time, and even ended up dancing! We also had 2 translators--Tanya and Natalia, and Hector the Russia VP here for the dinner. It was great getting out and it felt like home with all of the "okies" (well, and one texan , and one venezualan) in town :)

Kids can be a bit embarrassing at times :) .... For instance, when we got them their new bikes, they were just soooo happy, and we were glad too. But, since they are so over the top, Lee and I are a tad embarrassed when we go out with them :) Emma's bike is all "princessed up", and Paul's is what we refer to as the "circus bike". However, they are happy, so we are too! haha.





This last pic is of little Paul...... I found him like this when I went into check on him before I went to bed. Apparently, he didn't want his diaper on, so he ripped it off, and then went to sleep! I about died when I saw this, so I had to take a picture :) Poor Paulie is going to have quite a bit of material on him that I can use for blackmail :) Well, Emma too, for that matter---check out those sunglasses :)